IRIA News

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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported over 30 incidents in October that caused property damage or injuries to its soldiers, as Israel continued to urge peacekeepers to vacate their positions.

A press release by the UNIFIL reported that Israeli forces “deliberately demolished” a UN watchtower and fence at the Marwahin site, underscoring the increasing violence directed toward their positions. “Yet again, we remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times,” the mission stated, urging the IDF to halt its aggressive stance.

According to UNIFIL, incidents such as these are flagrant violations of international law, which mandates the protection of peacekeeping forces under all circumstances.

Recent weeks have seen a series of alarming confrontations between the IDF and UNIFIL. Only days ago, a UNIFIL watchtower near Kafer Kela was struck by an IDF Merkava tank, which destroyed two cameras and inflicted significant structural damage on the tower.

In #Lebanon, more than 2,000 people have died and 800,000 have been forced to flee in recent weeks as shelling continues. @UNIFIL_ Spokesperson briefed reporters in NY from Beirut, pointing out that statistics cannot convey the human toll of the conflict. pic.twitter.com/sblryxMx96

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 30, 2024

UNIFIL described the attack as “direct and deliberate,” a grave charge that raises questions about the safety and future of the mission along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated border between Israel and Lebanon.

Attacks on UNIFIL mission

UNIFIL recorded over 30 security incidents in October alone, with approximately 20 attributable to IDF actions, including seven instances described as clearly intentional.

Andrea Tenenti, UNIFIL’s spokesperson, explained at a news conference, “What has been very concerning are incidents where peacekeepers performing their monitoring tasks, as well as our cameras, lighting, and entire watchtowers, have been deliberately targeted by the [Israeli military].”

Tenenti further condemned the actions of both Israeli forces and Hezbollah, saying, “The actions of both the Israeli military and Hezbollah are putting peacekeepers in danger.”

On October 29, a rocket struck UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, Lebanon. The impact set a vehicle workshop ablaze and caused minor injuries to eight Austrian soldiers stationed there. Austria’s Ministry of Defense condemned the incident “in the strongest possible terms,” demanding an immediate investigation.

The latest clashes are reminiscent of past hostilities, but the intensity and frequency of the attacks on UN positions signify an alarming trend of targeted violence against peacekeepers.

While the peacekeepers have sustained physical injuries and property damage, UNIFIL’s statement emphasized their commitment to maintaining their mandated positions along the Blue Line, despite repeated calls from the Israeli government to evacuate.

The IDF contends that UNIFIL’s presence indirectly supports Hezbollah’s operations, and it has pressed for their withdrawal under the pretext of security. Nonetheless, UNIFIL insists on continuing its work to “monitor and report” violations along the border, including supporting the safe passage of humanitarian aid, a necessity for Lebanon’s struggling population.

International push for de-escalation

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, has hinted at possible diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. In a recent televised interview, Mikati mentioned a conversation with U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein about a potential ceasefire. Hochstein’s scheduled visit to Israel and CIA Director William Burns’s concurrent trip to Egypt also indicate an American-led diplomatic push to mitigate the situation, although details remain uncertain.

The mounting confrontations have drawn reactions from global leaders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his “deep concern” over the assaults on peacekeepers, warning that attacks on UN personnel constitute breaches of international law and may even qualify as war crimes.

Guterres pointed out that the “safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed” by all parties involved, without exception. The Secretary-General’s comments highlight the severe implications of the ongoing violence, stressing the potential legal repercussions for nations that violate UN resolutions and endanger peacekeepers.

The UN’s calls for restraint, however, appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Tensions continue to simmer along the Blue Line, and with Hezbollah’s increasing aggression and Israel’s uncompromising stance on Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon, the safety of UNIFIL personnel remains precarious. Both sides seem poised for further escalation, and the political landscape offers little room for optimism.

As UNIFIL struggles to uphold its mandate in the face of rising danger, the world watches closely, hoping that diplomatic efforts will prevail over the ever-looming threat of intensified conflict.

The situation has put the mission’s personnel in an unenviable position—unarmed peacekeepers working within an intensifying war zone, with limited protection against the crossfire. Whether recent talks led by U.S. envoys can lay the groundwork for a ceasefire remains uncertain.

For now, UNIFIL’s troops stand resilient, committed to their mission, yet increasingly vulnerable to attacks from both sides in this precarious chapter of Lebanon-Israel relations.